X-Ray Machine Visits Patients' Rooms

The machine operates by being driven to a location in the hospital by two electric motors that power each of the back wheels. Onboard rechargeable batteries help to add weight to counter balance the X-ray arm. Once the machine is in position, the soft, high-grip wheels are mechanically locked in place. The arm is aligned to the location, proper patient shielding is applied, the arm is moved to the proper position, and the X-ray tube placement is confirmed. Both Ogura spring-applied brakes lock in place to hold the arm in position and the X-ray is taken.

There are two brakes used in the Hitachi arm. The first brake, Ogura spring applied model RNB3.3G-N, is located on the motor that moves the arm up and down to position the X-ray tube. This brake has to hold the overhung load of the X-ray tube as it can extend over the patient. The second brake, Ogura spring applied model RNB0.4GN, is located at the joint (elbow) that extends the X-ray tube. This joint allows the arm to pull in tight to the machine or to move out over the patient.

Cutaway diagram of spring-applied brake.

The Ogura spring-applied brake, model RNB3.3G-N, (arm base) has a static torque rating of 292-inch lb and the RNB-0.4G-N (elbow) has a torque rating of 35-inch lb. Although the brake torques are different, both brakes operate the same way. When no current/voltage is applied to the brake, a series of springs push against an internal pressure plate, squeezing the friction disc between the inner pressure plate and the outer brake cover place. The friction disk is actually a metal disk with a high coefficient friction material bonded to both sides. This frictional clamping force is transferred to the hub, which is mounted to the shaft of the motor.

When the brake is required to release, voltage/current is applied to the coil creating a magnetic field. This magnetic field pulls the pressure plate in against the coil housing, compressing the springs and releasing the clamping force to the friction disc by creating an air gap that allows the brake, hub, and friction disc to turn freely. The power-off brake is considered engaged when no power is applied, which is why it is considered a safety brake.

The Ogura RNB is designed for holding only. Since it is used for holding only and does not require surface area to dissipate the heat of a stopping brake, the RNB is smaller than an equivalent-sized brake that would be required to stop and hold.

One of Hitachi's design goals was to make the new machine thinner so it could fit into tighter spaces and be more maneuverable. The Ogura RNB series has a very thin profile, which allows for an overall compact package for the X-ray machine. Use of wear-resistant friction material provides extended operational life. Since the brakes are spring set they deliver a fast response time. Sometimes spring set brakes are designed with manual release levers, but for Hitachi's application, the RNB was sized so it can be manually overdriven (pushed) away if needed in an emergency.

Noise is always a concern in a hospital environment. When electromagnetic clutches and brakes engage and disengage there can be a noticeable click. Even a small click can be objectionable in a hospital environment, so Hitachi engineers asked Ogura to come up with a quiet design. Ogura was able to create a design that incorporated a series of dampening rubber grommets that greatly lowered the audible frequency of the click, making the engagement and disengagement extremely quiet.

Historically, X-ray machines have sometimes been mobile, but not this mobile, and not with this kind of resolution. I can still recall shoe stores that used "shoe-fitting fluoroscopes" in the 1960s. Before people understood the exposure hazards, shoe storoes would use these things to x-ray a customers' feet and see how well their shoes fit. They called them "pedoscopes," and they weren't nearly as mobile as this system.

I agree, Elizabeth. The technician might consider putting a fuzzy bunny on top when they X-ray children. I think I recall a story about a doctor who tells stories of a space ship adventure to explain to children about all those noises they hear while they are getting an MRI.

It sounds like Fuji Film reinvented itself. I wonder why Kodak let itself run into the ground, insisting that its own invention of a digital camera should be suppressed because the technology would hurt its film business. That's a story for the business schools.

The image included with the article makes it look like the units are not sealed. Is there any problem with friction pad particle contamination in a hospital setting? Food factories are loath to use an unsealed brake or clutch for that reason; do hospitals care about it?

This is a really interesting breakthrough, and I would say it's about time. With all the advances in medicine and medical devices it feels like X-Ray machines haven't really evolved all that much over the years in terms of making things easier for patients. This shows great potential for that to change.

A few weeks ago, Ford Motor Co. quietly announced that it was rolling out a new wrinkle to the powerful safety feature called stability control, adding even more lifesaving potential to a technology that has already been very successful.

It won't be too much longer and hardware design, as we used to know it, will be remembered alongside the slide rule and the Karnaugh map. You will need to move beyond those familiar bits and bytes into the new world of software centric design.

People who want to take advantage of solar energy in their homes no longer need to install a bolt-on solar-panel system atop their houses -- they can integrate solar-energy-harvesting shingles directing into an existing or new roof instead.

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